I'm sure there are many here who think I'm slightly eccentric and this current project will probably confirm this belief as I am into the fourth session of constructing a small shed out of brick . One brick at a time .This is going to be one of a pair that sit either side of the track at the bottom of an incline for a brickworks , and support the return wheel .
I recently bought 1000 bricks in 1/32nd scale from a manufacturer in Germany . www.miniaturziegel.de . This is the manufacturer Marcel Ackle uses and recommends on his website . The bricks themselves are made out of clay and are of uniform size and need no cleaning up .
I have laid them in a Flemmish bond using HO 6x1s as mortar joints .
Obviously this is going to be a fairly time consuming business , but done in sessions of a couple of hours or so ,whilst listening to the TV , it is surprising how quickly things progress . It is also not as boring and mind numbing as it would appear .
As for the time when I need to add mortar to the joints I will need to make the decision as to what to use . I'm pretty certain that it won't be baking powder as I'm no longer sure that it is the best way to go . However, that decision won't need to be made for sometime .
Nick
This was the state of play at the beginning of this evening .
And another
The next two photos are of the prototype that gave me the idea . It is a brickworks Thuringia , Germany in about 1990 .
They are taken from a book called Die Feldbahn Band 9 by Andreas Christopher and Frank Harding .
yeah, Nick thats what we think you are "slightly eccentric" but leave to a 1-1 builder to build with individual bricks. I absolutely love the proto shots and would have guessed like 1950's if it wasn't for the modern light. Will be watching very closely and am absolutely amazed that you have already started another project so soon. Are you feeling OK? LOL Pat
Nice work so far! I'm considering doing the same thing myself one of these days, but have never found a good source of 1/24th scale bricks.
I like those prototype pics, very cool.
Quote from: Belg on September 06, 2009, 04:41:07 PM
yeah, Nick thats what we think you are "slightly eccentric" but leave to a 1-1 builder to build with individual bricks. I absolutely love the proto shots and would have guessed like 1950's if it wasn't for the modern light. Will be watching very closely and am absolutely amazed that you have already started another project so soon. Are you feeling OK? LOL Pat
Pat ,
I'm on a role and all fired up . I'll be fairly churning them out from now on . Yeah , right !
Sometimes you see something that you can't resist modelling and the sheds in these photos are a prime example . The added bonus is that they are not too big and need not both be built at once .
The book the photos come from is one of ten volumes which are full of shots of this sort of thing , the overwhelming majority of which are in colour . The main problem is that most of the volumes have sold out and not easy to get hold of . I managed to get 6 of the 10 since February , but it was bit of a struggle .
Nick
Quote from: Ray Dunakin on September 06, 2009, 04:46:25 PM
Nice work so far! I'm considering doing the same thing myself one of these days, but have never found a good source of 1/24th scale bricks.
I like those prototype pics, very cool.
Ray ,
I bought a load of 1/24th scale bricks on Ebay last year and used them to build a lean-to shed in that scale . To be honest they are easier to get hold of in 1/24th than they are in 1/32 or 1/35th ( there are quite a few manufacturers making bricks in 1/35th scale but they are only good for rubble ) .
Check out dolls house sites , as the ones I bought are intended for that market . The two Ebay shops I have on my list of favourites are " miniaturebrickbargains" and " Minaco-UK" . But if I were you I'd just try Googling " 1/24th scale bricks" as that is all I did .
Here is a shot of my unfinished locoshed .
Nick
Nick -
Thanks for posting the link to the German manufacturer. I'm a scale nitpicker, and their nice bricks scale out oversized for US brick. The 1:32 brick is 7.5 mm long, which scales out to 9.44 inches in length, a good bit longer than the usual 8" (nominal) brick. But the visual effect of laid-up brick is so appealing!
Mark
Mark ,
The bricks are slightly overscale for 1/35th , which is what I'm working in , but sometimes you have to make a few compromises or else you would get nothing done . I did agonise over their size until yesterday when I came across a picture of a German bricklayer in the 1950s ( the era I'm modelling in ) and saw that the bricks he was using seem to be larger than the ones I'm used to . I can now sleep easy knowing that my brickwork isn't completely wrong .
Nick
Quote from: shropshire lad on September 06, 2009, 04:14:14 PM
I'm sure there are many here who think I'm slightly eccentric ......
Nick
Ahhh, the so very British penchant for understatement....... ;D
QuoteI came across a picture of a German bricklayer in the 1950s ( the era I'm modelling in ) and saw that the bricks he was using seem to be larger than the ones I'm used to .
The Reason the german bricks are bigger is because they are proper "Teutonic" bricks....none of these prim and proper English ones. ;) ;D
Cool project and reference photos looking forward to tour model of it.
Marc
Nick, if you manage to do a fair job of representing what we see in those prototype photos then I'm going to be first in line to demand an article. So far it looks like you are right on the money. And I say that in spite of the fact that you have lost your cotton pickin' mind! -- Russ
Hey Nick,
The Mortaring, Looks like a job for NEBS Mortar Mock Mix... ;D
I am going to check that site and maybe order some myself. (always looking to try new things)
Mike
Nick,
Quotea picture of a German bricklayer in the 1950s ( the era I'm modelling in ) and saw that the bricks he was using seem to be larger than the ones I'm used to
Not to dissappoint you but it looks to me like he in not a bricklayer but a streetmaker with standard streetklinkers in his hands.
Jacq
Quote from: jacq01 on September 07, 2009, 04:10:34 AM
Nick,
Quotea picture of a German bricklayer in the 1950s ( the era I'm modelling in ) and saw that the bricks he was using seem to be larger than the ones I'm used to
Not to dissappoint you but it looks to me like he in not a bricklayer but a streetmaker with standard streetklinkers in his hands.
Jacq
Jacq , do you realise what you have done by telling me that ? You have just shattered all my illusions and I shall now go back to agonising over the size of my bricks and I'll probably end up in therapy with Rein Russberg . Once I've finished my course of treatment the only bricks I'll be allowed to play with are plastic ones with letters on !
Thanks, Old Bean ,
Nick
Quote from: MrBrownstone on September 07, 2009, 01:33:28 AM
Hey Nick,
The Mortaring, Looks like a job for NEBS Mortar Mock Mix... ;D
I am going to check that site and maybe order some myself. (always looking to try new things)
Mike
Mike ,
Your mortar mix sounds as if it could be what I need . I shall investigate further .
Just to make you aware , the brickmaker in Germany doesn't take creditcards , unfortunately . I ended up sending Euros through the post to him . Obviously , not an ideal solution but the easiest , for me , in the long run .
I shall be placing another order with him in the next few days for a further 2000 bricks . Just to give you an idea how far 1000 bricks goes , I don't expect to have enough to finish this building . What I'll do when I have laid them all is to measure the area that they cover .
Nick
Sounds Great Nick,
I'll be watching for those mesurements... 8)
as for the mortar mix... I now have 3 mortar mix dye colors available.(they dry just a slightly lighter in color)
Mike
Last week you tell me your going to start on a new brick project doing one brick at a time. And already we are almost complete.
Great job and a very nice looking model. Really looking forward to seeing the finished project.
Jerry
Quote from: MrBrownstone on September 07, 2009, 03:10:40 PM
Sounds Great Nick,
I'll be watching for those mesurements... 8)
as for the mortar mix... I now have 3 mortar mix dye colors available.(they dry just a slightly lighter in color)
Mike
Mike ,
It'll be the middle one for me . When I'm ready I'll put an order in ,
Nick
Quote from: TRAINS1941 on September 08, 2009, 05:57:02 AM
Last week you tell me your going to start on a new brick project doing one brick at a time. And already we are almost complete.
Great job and a very nice looking model. Really looking forward to seeing the finished project.
Jerry
Jerry ,
You know me , when I say I'm going to do something ... And no , I haven't forgotten what I promised all those months ago !
Nick
Hey Nick,
that sounds good too..
when you get some mesurements.. I'll make sure you get enough mix for the project (plus a some extra for you to try on other stuff.)(it will work exactly like mortar, you could build the wall with this stuff, instead of the washing method seeing as your building the walls brick by brick anyway) ???
when you order just order the small set... I'll take care of the rest, I will include the NEBS Interactive Learning Series - Mortar Mock Mix CD too, and thanks... I can't wait to see how it will look..
We have also created a "NEBS Learning Series CD's / DVD's" (shhh.. Russell is working on a DVD Release)
Mike
Here are a couple of progress shots . For the last couple of nights I have been concentrating on the chimney . There are just under two hundred and fifty brick in the chimney, although to me it doesn't look it .
I have about 488 bricks left which will do about another ten to twelve courses all round or finish one side . I need to get another order in to Germany quick .
I think when I've finished the bricks I have I will do something else for a bit or I really might go mad .
Nick
And another one
Adding the wood bits with all the nails and knotholes ought to put you over the edge. See you there!
Very cool Nick,
The reference pics from the last page were great as well. The deutz/brickworks display is shaping into a very nicely detailed piece. Very Marcel (which is a great thing, I love his style)...insanity can be very rewarding when viewed from the inside!
Speaking of Marcel, anyone know what he's been up to lately? I think Jacq mentioned an exhibition with him shortly, but his site is one I frequent often for his updates and its been a bit quiet of late.
Dan
Looking good!
I wonder how those bricks would hold up outdoors?
Hey Nick,
Looking good there.... It don't look like 250... I agree... But it sure looks good! ;D
Ray, They probably hold up pretty good seeing as they are baked clay... they tell you more on the site http://www.miniaturziegel.de (but you have to translate it from german to english, unless you can read german ;D)
(if you are using Internet Explorer 8 just right click on the webpage and select translate)
I like the brick they make.... makes me want to make some... ;)
Mike
Quote from: danpickard on September 11, 2009, 01:31:14 PM
Very cool Nick,
The reference pics from the last page were great as well. The deutz/brickworks display is shaping into a very nicely detailed piece. Very Marcel (which is a great thing, I love his style)...insanity can be very rewarding when viewed from the inside!
Speaking of Marcel, anyone know what he's been up to lately? I think Jacq mentioned an exhibition with him shortly, but his site is one I frequent often for his updates and its been a bit quiet of late.
Dan
Dan ,
Marcel has been busy and he does post what he builds but more on the German forums . Try www.buntbahn.de and look under Anglagenbau &Zubehor and Modellbautechniken where you will find what he has been up to . I think he has been forced to slow down a bit as he has buggered his arm/hand up !
He is like Chuck , travelling his own course in his own little world with impressive results .
Nick
I see Marcel next weekend in Stromberg. He had too much work so modelling has slowed down a bit. He is experimenting in the scale cabbages as he send me a picture of one of his latest products. We'll see next week.
The bricklaying of your building is progressing nicely, no wonder with the excercise of the chimney behind you. As Chuck stated, you'll go over the edge with the timbers.
jacq
Nick,
Thanks for the other forum link...so I see Marcel is into "doing his own casting" of sorts!
I guess an arm encased in fibreglass would make things a little difficult.
Dan
I just heard from Marcel,
he had to cancel his participation in Stromberg. He lost his footings in the garden and has torn the ligaments in his left elbow. His arm is in plaster. As a lefthander this is of course a "double" problem.
This means the meeting in Stromberg is cancelled :( :( :'(
Jacq
Jacq,
If you speak to Marcel, please give him my best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Dan:
Marcel's work can also be seen here on the Shmallspur forum, where he is one of the moderators:
http://www.kostenloses-forum.com/board/index,nxu,01642644nx1878.html (http://www.kostenloses-forum.com/board/index,nxu,01642644nx1878.html)
...there is some nice work by others there, as well as very good info by the likes of Rolf Tonner, Kalle, and sim others.
Nick:
Not so sure about that joint between the wall and the chimney..... ;) ;D
Marc
pant, pant......Sorry I am late.
Taking a vacation sure kicks a hole in my "spare time" and now Nick is posting on a regular basis!!!! :o
Next thing you know Marc will finish something!
Anyway, looks great Nick! can we get some castings made from molds of the project?
Preferably before you do the mortar?
-Marty
Marc ,
The reason for the large joint between the chimney and wall is that the builders who laid the foundations for the shed didn't put enough cement in the concrete and as a result the building is suffering from subsidence . Either that , or I just loosely pushed them together for the shot and they'll be glued together properly when it is finished . Which looks like after I've taken a mold of the building , because some pesky person can't be bothered to build one for himself and wants me to make his life even easier than it is now .
Oh , talk of the devil , Hi Ya Marty . Did you have a nice time on Montana . It doesn't sound like you had a very relaxing time if you were walking for 14 hours a day . What's up couldn't you afford the bus fare ?
I had been thinking of making a mold of it , but didn't think it would be of any use to anyone else . It is really a 1/32nd building rather than a 1/35th scale one but don't tell anyone .
As I have been rather verbose of late , any one interested in seeing my static grass applicator that cost less than a tenner ? Be that , 10 dollars , 10 Euros or even 10 pounds .
Nick
Nick,
are you also one of those that wrecked the electronic fly killer and linked it to a tea seeve ?
please show your grass erector so we can judge it's merrits.
Jacq
Indeed! We are always looking for new ways to get it up.
Nick, you seem unusually troubled. It is sad to see a modeler of such talent emotionally disintegrate before an international audience. Nonetheless I find your bewildering posts most amusing. That comment about Marty not being able to afford the bus fare was priceless. Henceforth, please adorn your verbal antics with photos of your modeling antics. In other words, build more stuff! -- Russ
Russ
Your handy with a camera maybe you should take a group picture. Your all crazy, even if your modeling is excellent!! ;D
Jerry
Nick never mind the bricks were is the ripper standing these days, Diane is waiting. And St Louis is to far off!!!!
Quote from: jacq01 on September 15, 2009, 11:30:06 AM
Nick,
are you also one of those that wrecked the electronic fly killer and linked it to a tea seeve ?
please show your grass erector so we can judge it's merrits.
Jacq
Jacq ,
Yes , indeedy, I certainly am one of those fly killer wreckers . They are simplicity itself to make , because even I managed it . I'll take some photos later .
Chuck ,
Let us know how you get on with yours when you've made one . But don't bother with the photos !
Russ ,
I am building stuff , but at one brick at a time progress isn't that rapid .
Anyway , what are you building at the moment ? Your public want to know .
Jerry ,
I know , I know . I'm on to it .
I am still trying to devise a better way to model with cardstock so why should I build anything? I have delusions of discovering how to build a more realistic card model than any I have built so far. And the only reason I waste my efforts and time is because the goal is so damned elusive. If it were either easy or obviously impossible I would have reverted to wood and styrene long ago.
Besides, I must attend the National Narrow Gauge Convention in Colorado Springs. We will be leaving later today (after I get some sleep) and return in a couple of days, I hope with some photos of great models whose builders will want me to publish them. This may well be my last post until Sunday.
Please keep up the excellent modeling and rampant insanity and I'll try to catch up when I return.
Russ
Well Russ, speaking for myself, rampant insanity is not a problem ;). Have a safe and productive trip to the convention.
Paul
Yehaaa....ding-dong, Russ is gone!.....When the cat's away....... ;D ;D
Now the lunatics can run the assylum....... ;D
M
Quote from: marc_reusser on September 16, 2009, 09:50:45 PM
Yehaaa....ding-dong, Russ is gone!.....When the cat's away....... ;D ;D
Now the lunatics can run the assylum....... ;D
M
Will there be any noticable difference ?
Might go to bed tonight with a bottle of MEK open on the bedside table and see if I feel any different in the morning? ;D :o :o :o.... ???
Dan
Quote from: danpickard on September 17, 2009, 06:00:07 AM
Might go to bed tonight with a bottle of MEK open on the bedside table and see if I feel any different in the morning? ;D :o :o :o.... ???
Dan
Dan ,
If that doesn't work , try rubbing some on your chest ,
nick
Well, just woke up...don't feel any different.
Maybe the glue insanity is already firmly installed and the madness is just part of everyday life now...
I guess I just go to work, drive past the same 4-5 buildings and have those same wild visions about how good they could look as a model (delusions of grandeur?).
Then I will spend half my shift picking up the vast array of medical supplies in the storeroom, going off to my "other place", trying to picture in my mind what else they could possibly look like in 1:48.
I'll draw the line at coming home from work, going to my hobby room, and imagining I'm only 1.5" tall, and starting a relationship with the hot looking white metal chicks in the figures collection!!!!!! ;D
How's the brickworks coming along then?
Dan
Quote from: shropshire lad on September 16, 2009, 11:07:42 PM
Quote from: marc_reusser on September 16, 2009, 09:50:45 PM
Yehaaa....ding-dong, Russ is gone!.....When the cat's away....... ;D ;D
Now the lunatics can run the assylum....... ;D
M
Will there be any noticable difference ?
Aah... no ;D
"Hot looking white metal chicks..." Dan I think you need some time off ;)
Paul
Please tell me they don't have antlers.
John
Would those chicks be considered "heavy metal chicks"...woohoo!
M
Could be... I hear if you rub them in the right spot, they buff up nicely... :o
Paul
Oh that beautifull english language ;D ;D ;D
Geez, bunch of classy modellers we have here isn't it!
NNGC is only on for one more day...do we have to remove the slightly off topic slant to the "one brick at a time" beginings here before russ gets home? I guess we could just blame Nick... technically speaking he started it ;)
Dan
(Marc, be careful calling them "heavy", they might twist that into thinking you meant fat, and thats a whole different ball game you really don't want to be playing!! ;D )
Just don't tell Unc that they have 'thong bikini's' or he'll be trying to find out where to order.
John
Quote from: danpickard on September 19, 2009, 03:02:29 PM
Geez, bunch of classy modellers we have here isn't it!
NNGC is only on for one more day...do we have to remove the slightly off topic slant to the "one brick at a time" beginings here before russ gets home? I guess we could just blame Nick... technically speaking he started it ;)
Dan
Yeah , that's right , blame me . Let stoopid Nick carry the can .
By the way , Mr. Fluffykins is back , so you had better clear this place up and get rid of the girls . And it's your turn to pay for them !
Nick
Getting back to the main topic of this thread , I have just returned from Euro Militaire where I bought some bricks that compare very favourably with the ones I have been using . For less than half the price . Bloody typical .
However , I can't use them on the same building as they are slightly different in size and colour . Nevermind , I'm sure they'll get used somewhere .
Nick
Isn't it possible that a repaired section might have some different colour bricks?
Heavy metal chicks...well done!
Quote from: Chuck Doan on September 21, 2009, 09:01:11 AM
Isn't it possible that a repaired section might have some different colour bricks?
Chuck ,
Yes, it is perfectly possible to have a repaired section with different bricks , and it may come to it if the next batch of bricks doesn't arrive in a timely manner . What I might do is block one of the window openings up with the new bricks . I had thought about making some blocks and using them , but bricks would work just as well .
Nick
The only thing "fluffy" about me is my mink engineer's cap. Now all of you quit goofing around and get back to the grindstone! Demerits will be handed out after class. Nick, report to the headmaster's office! -- Russ
Quote from: finescalerr on September 21, 2009, 01:29:06 PM
The only thing "fluffy" about me is my mink engineer's cap. Now all of you quit goofing around and get back to the grindstone! Demerits will be handed out after class. Nick, report to the headmaster's office! -- Russ
Please , Sir , it were Pickard Minor . Not me . He started it .
Would that be a Pink Mink Cap ? Can we see a photo ?
Nick
Yes, the damned thing is pink. I had asked for Hot Red but my mom washed it with bleach before giving it to me. -- Russ
Pink mink engineer's cap ??? That seems like a little more information than we need to know Russ... ;)
Paul
Quick update for those who might be interested .
I recieved my next shipment of 2000 bricks from Germany on Friday so I am back slapping them down again . However , I have a dilemma . What to make the lintels out of . I have a number of options . Stone , concrete , RSJ ( rolled steel joist) brick or timber . Bearing in mind that this is a cheap industrial building I have ruled stone out so I am torn between concrete and steel . Any thoughts anyone ?
Nick
I have seen some interesting steel ones. If they had some scrap laying around it would be quick to do.
Steel 'L' or 'H' section would be quite common, and ould provide some nice detailing/weathering relief.
Somwhere I have images of these from an old 1920's brick structure we restored, and seismically retrofitted....will see if I can find them.
M
Hey Guy's,
I don't know...So I went back and looked at the posted reference photos...
I see alot of wood used and quite a bit of it laying around?
what was used to support the arch/overhaed? rails?
Mike
Hi Nick,
Just sifting through some recent threads, wondering if there was any progress with this one?
Dan
(effects of the MEK have worn off, and I have a modellers frame of mind back in place ;))
Quote from: danpickard on November 23, 2009, 12:37:42 PM
Hi Nick,
Just sifting through some recent threads, wondering if there was any progress with this one?
Dan
(effects of the MEK have worn off, and I have a modellers frame of mind back in place ;))
Dan ,
Thanks for showing an interest . There has indeed been a significant amount of progress on this project . I have virtually finished the first shed ( the one with the chimney ) and I am about three quarters finished on the other one . I have slowed down recently because , would you believe , I need some more HO 6x1 stripwood for the mortar joints and no one seems to sell it over here . So I have been rumaging around in all my old kit boxes looking for leftover wood that might be suitable . I think I have just about got enough , without resorting to robbing unstarted ( and probably never will be) kits .
I ended up buying another 2000 bricks from Germany at vast expense to do the second building but decided to make a mold of a couple of hundred of them and see how they look made out of plaster . Stupidly I didn't put any sort of releasing agent on the bricks before making the mold and , not surprisingly , I had a job getting them out of the mold when it had set . However , as it happens it turned out for the good because in the act of getting the bricks out of the mold I managed to rip little bits of the mold . This gives the bricks more surface texture and consequently makes them more interesting to look at , almost a " hand made " brick look .
I have also made a set of test panels using five different materials for the brick . The first uses the original clay bricks and the other four are different plasters . Three white plasters and one terracotta coloured plaster . The upshot of the trial is that I have dismissed the white plasters as they take to much effort to colour , and I shall be making all my bricks in future using the terracotta plaster . For the obvious reasons , the colour is virtually what I want . All I need to do is give the wall a number of pinwashes on individual bricks with either ink and alcohol or thinned paints , be they watercolours or acrylics .
I then gave the panels a couple of coats of matt varnish and then filled the mortar joints with plaster . This seems to have worked well. The terracotta panel is just about how I want my brickwork to look .
The only problem with the terracotta plaster is that it has had very fine iron powder added to it to make it rust when it gets wet ( it is hard enough to be left outside ) and this ends up looking a bit shiny if it is sanded , so I have to be careful not to sand the finished walls . Not always that easy to do .
All the plasters I have used are from a British company called Alex Tiranti at www.tiranti.co.uk .
I suppose you'll be asking for photos next .
I hope I haven't bored you to much , but you did ask ,
Nick
Nick, got any photos? ;D
Of course we want some bloddy photos!!!!!
Certainly glad to hear there has been some good progress though, and no, it wasn't boring to read...
Cheers,
Dan
Yeah, Nick, quit wasting time and post some photos! Sounds as though you may get some really good results. -- Russ
"we want pictures!" "we want pictures!" "we want pictures!" "we want pictures!"
(in a loud chant)
sounds like you are learning a lot and developing new tricks.
Can not wait to see the results.
-Marty
Nick wrote suppose you'll be asking for photos next!!
Well yes how did you guess don't tell us the camera is broke again. Marty is available to fly over and take some for you!!! Or maybe you could even get Russ to the photo shoot for you!!!!
Jerry
Quote from: TRAINS1941 on November 24, 2009, 08:16:58 AM
Nick wrote suppose you'll be asking for photos next!!
Well yes how did you guess don't tell us the camera is broke again. Marty is available to fly over and take some for you!!! Or maybe you could even get Russ to the photo shoot for you!!!!
Jerry
Either or both are welcome to pop over whenever they like , but I must warn them that the weather is s--t at the moment ,
Nick
well I could sure use a break in our weather!
Highs in the 80's and lows of only 77 stinks!
I'd love some good duck hunting weather;
About 42 with a constant mist and a nice 30 mph headwind with the occasional gust,
may be even a flake or two after dark?....
-Marty
Marty, here in Southern California we have the same temperatures with very dry conditions and some Santa Ana winds. No measurable rainfall in almost a year. It's so dry my cats are crackling with static electricity. We'd gladly accept some of Nick's rain. -- Russ
Quote from: finescalerr on November 25, 2009, 12:49:31 AM
It's so dry my cats are crackling with static electricity.
Now there's an image... Just call them "Sparky"... ;D
Paul
Ok , I finally got the photographic plates back from the developer so I can show you what I have been up to recently .
These are definitely " warts'n'all" shots so any dodgy bits or glaring cock ups will be sorted .
Nick
A couple more
More
More
And finally .
You might notice the texture of the bricks on the left hand shed is not as rough as the one on the right . This , as I mentioned earlier , is because the mold got damaged slightly when removing the master bricks . I am not to disappointed by that . I couldn't wait to finish all the bricks before seeing how the mortar would look , so I tried it on one wall . With a bit more fiddling it should be ok ( from about 10 feet!) .
Nick
Hi Nick,
I really like the added roughness of the home cast bricks, adds a bit of individual character to the wall. The motar work fills it out nicely, and I like some of the damp rising marks against the lower brick courses. I imagine putting a srtucture together 1 brick at a time, although perhaps a bit tedious, would also be quite rewarding, and also give a lot better control over the final look of the building, as opposed to working with a precast brick wall.
Cheers,
Dan
Very nice Nick...I really like the results you are getting, and the overall look.
I would be curious to see what your mold looks like.
MR
BTW. Like the locos too.
Warts, huh? I don't see any warts. What I see is some damned fine brickwork. When you add the mortar it really looks nice.
You certainly made us wait long enough for the photos ....
Russ
Quite apart from the colour and texture, it's great to see brickwork that doesn't have rounded corners for a change.
Locos are kewl too.
finally!
very nice! would love to see the mold as well.
glad it is going so well.
-Marty
Quote from: finescalerr on November 30, 2009, 01:00:56 AM
You certainly made us wait long enough for the photos ....
Russ
There's no pleasing some people .
Marc and Marty ( or should that be Marty and Marc ? Or just M&M ? ) ,
Well , you haven't had to wait very long for this photo , though I'm not to sure why you want to see it . I assume this is what you were both asking to see ?
Nick
Sure took you forever to post that photo of the mold, Nick. Come on, man, let's step on the gas!
Thanks for the photo. I'm really impressed with the structures so far.
Russ
Nick
Great photo's. The brick work is excellent. Now when do we see the comp;ete building or do we have to wait until next year!!!!
Jerry
BTW as Marc said nice loco's
Quote from: TRAINS1941 on November 30, 2009, 03:28:25 PM
Nick
Great photo's. The brick work is excellent. Now when do we see the comp;ete building or do we have to wait until next year!!
Jerry ,
I wasn't thinking of going that quickly . You'll be expecting me to complete the diorama next . You're as demanding as Russberg !
Thanks for the favourable comments , Boys .
Nick
Quote from: shropshire lad on November 30, 2009, 10:22:29 AM
I assume this is what you were both asking to see ?
Nick
Thanks!
MR
Hi Nick,
nice work as ever. On the subject of roughness I took these pics last month in Cornwall. They are opposite sides of the same wall. Interesting too from the viewpoint of the colour of the mortar lines- I guess black works too!
James
opposite side...
James ,
Belated thanks for posting the photos . It looks as if the "Great mortar debate" is still on even though John Hughes is no longer with us .
Here are a few update shots of where I am up to . The brickwork is essentially finished and I have added mortar to the second shed . I am holding off putting the mortar in the shed with the chimney as I am trying to figure out a way of making molds of the building and chimney .
Nick
And two more .
I have started the overhead pulley frame much of which is guesswork . All I have to do is locate a suitable pulley from somewhere . If the worst comes to the worst I'll have to have a go at making one .
Nick
Superb brickwork. Just superb. -- Russ
Nick,
love your brickwork. Hopefully will be able to see it in person in 2010.
Hope you have happy hols and a good new year,
James
Your "real" bricks are beautiful. I have been doing some carving (playing) with foamboard, but think I am going to bin it and order some Ziegel bricks now. Madness.
d
Nick,
this looks great. Where will the lintel beam sit over the large door ? Will you remove some bricks to fit it in ?
Jacq
Really looking great Nick... particularly like the interplay of the bricks and steel beam lintels and the overhead pulley frame. It's going to be a real treat watching this all come together. Definitely going to have to come back to this thread when it comes time to build the 1:24 brick Belgrave shed...
Paul
Thanks for the favourable comments , Chaps .
James ,
If you make it to Shepton Mallet I can bring them then . Hopefully , in a more finished state .
Jacq ,
I decided , due to the shape of the roof just to have an imaginary flat or angled steel beam over the double doors which is hidden behind the brickwork . For two reasons , less work and to make the shed slightly different to the other one . In addition , that looks like how the original in the photos was done . I also figured that if the door frame was substantial enough then having a proper lintel would not be that critical as there is very little weight above the door in any case .
Nick
Nick
Incredible brick work to say the least.
Jerry
Well the corners look okay <big grin>
Will there be a track between the two buildings?
What kind of roof? metal?
I wish you were a better photographer, I'm sure it looks even better in person!
-Marty
If I ever tried brickwork, I would want to be just like Nick! Really!
Quote from: lab-dad on December 23, 2009, 06:38:32 AM
Well the corners look okay <big grin>
Will there be a track between the two buildings?
What kind of roof? metal?
I wish you were a better photographer, I'm sure it looks even better in person!
-Marty
Of course the corners are OK , because there aren't any straight joints !
If I may refer My Learned Friend Martin Jones back to half way down page one where he will see a couple of photos that I am using as reference for this project .I am being fairly true to what is in them , so the roof on the left hand shed will be corrugated sheeting and the roof on the right hand shed will be tarpaper .
There will be two tracks between the shed , a "going" and "return" .
I also wish I was a better photographer , but I don't have the time at the moment to put the effort in to improving my abilities . You could , of course, pop over and show me how it is done but you will have to bring a woolly hat as it is a bit nippy here at the moment .
Nick
Quote from: Chuck Doan on December 23, 2009, 08:21:16 AM
If I ever tried brickwork, I would want to be just like Nick! Really!
I think that is a compliment , but you can never tell with Our Chuck !
Nick, I have sent you by personal e-mail my little model photography primer. It assumes you can shoot outdoors but, in your climate, that sometimes may be impossible. If so, just make sure the lighting you use indoors is consistent: All natural light, all incandescent, all fluorescent. Don't, for example, shoot with the lights on and the window shades up.
Now you can stop whining about your photography skills and you also can't say you didn't get a Chritmas present. In return, your present to us will be better photos of your superb modeling.
Russ
Russ ,
Thanks for manuscript on "how to take better photos" . All I need to do now is figure out how to print it off .
I wasn't the one whining , it was Marty complaining about my rubbish photography . All I can say to that , is show us your latest piece of bricklaying !
Anyway , if I post crap photos of my work when you finally see it in the flesh you will either be pleasantly surprised that it looks better in real life or not dissappointed because it looks just as crap in real life as it does in the photos .
Happy Christmas to all you buggers around the World ,
Love and kisses,
Nick in the Winter Wonderland that is England
Nick,
having seen some of your photos of your narrow guage loco didn't think there was much wrong .
When you have read the tutorial you may want to have a look at this http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/07/how-to-diy-10-macro-photo-studio.html
Gordon
Quote from: gfadvance on December 24, 2009, 01:38:54 AM
When you have read the tutorial you may want to have a look at this http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/07/how-to-diy-10-macro-photo-studio.html
Great link! That light box is just the ticket for shooting SBS photos of small to mid size models.
Quote from: gfadvance on December 24, 2009, 01:38:54 AM
Nick,
having seen some of your photos of your narrow guage loco didn't think there was much wrong .
When you have read the tutorial you may want to have a look at this http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/07/how-to-diy-10-macro-photo-studio.html
Gordon
Gordon ,
Thanks for that link . I think with a bit of help from my mummy I should be able to build something like Strobist's box .
Nick
Hey Nick when you get done with this build here's another you could try, should be pretty easy now that you got the techniques down. Pat
http://images17.fotki.com/v349/photos/9/914592/4152282/100_2608-vi.jpg
Ok since everyone is talking about brick....does anyone do 1/48 individual scale bricks? Craig
Quote from: mobilgas on December 27, 2009, 05:44:46 PM
Ok since everyone is talking about brick....does anyone do 1/48 individual scale bricks? Craig
The German chap who makes the bricks I use also makes 1/45th scale bricks , is that close enough for you? I don't envy you building with bricks that small . Perfectly possible , I'm sure, but rather fiddly . Good luck .
You could try looking at what is on offer from some of the military modelling companies, although the only one so that I have found that makes 1/48th scale bricks is Plus Models , but the quality isn't nearly as good as the ones I have got .
The best solution would be to change scales !
Nick
Not brick, but a very nice sturdy header idea:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ilja/1986897962/
Chuck,
that last one is more in Marcel's alley. I'll send the link to him.
Jacq
Nick, ill have to look back on this post to see how to order some in 1/45 scale i think that size will be close enough.... Change scales....NO.... ill stick to O scale as my main scale. The gas station that i was doing was in 1/2 inch scale before the DEMO >:(..... one project in 1/2 scale will be plenty ;) Craig
Quote from: mobilgas on December 28, 2009, 10:42:28 AM
Nick, ill have to look back on this post to see how to order some in 1/45 scale i think that size will be close enough.... Change scales....NO.... ill stick to O scale as my main scale. The gas station that i was doing was in 1/2 inch scale before the DEMO one project in 1/2 scale will be plenty ;) Craig
Craig ,
The website is on the first page . However, I think you need to be made aware that I managed to get hold of the bricks because I have a German mother who phoned up on my behalf to order the bricks . I also had to pay by sending Euros because he doesn't take credit cards . This may be too much of a challenge for you , I can't say, but if it is you might consider making your own bricks out of stripwood or styrene , perhaps ? How about making 100 or so bricks out of whatever you think is suitable , make a mold of them and then cast whatever you need out of plaster , preferably a terracotta coloured plaster .
The changing scales quip was just a joke , but ironically it is much easier to find scales bricks in 1/24th scale than any other ,
Nick
Nick, Your right ill just forget about the 1/45 bricks....as i dont have a connection like you had. For me trying ..it would be to much trouble. And im to LAZY to make my own, wish i had some of his 1/45 bricks then i could cast my own ;D and everything would be right in Craig's modeling world. Craig
Marc once told me about an idea he had for making a brick wall from "paper". I think his plan may have been to find some cardboard or chipboard of the proper thickness and first cutting it into strips, then into individual bricks. Once you paint the stuff you can't tell what it's made from. The texture seems as though it would be preferable to either wood or plastic and I always liked the idea.
The other way I might go about it would be to make a flat sheet of modeling clay or plaster and cut it into bricks. The biggest advantage would seem that, once the bricks are cut, you could put them in a bag and shake them up to distress the edges and corners.
Bet you already thought of both those ideas.
Russ
Quote from: finescalerr on December 29, 2009, 01:41:15 AM
Marc once told me about an idea he had for making a brick wall from "paper". I think his plan may have been to find some cardboard or chipboard of the proper thickness and first cutting it into strips, then into individual bricks. Once you paint the stuff you can't tell what it's made from. The texture seems as though it would be preferable to either wood or plastic and I always liked the idea.
The other way I might go about it would be to make a flat sheet of modeling clay or plaster and cut it into bricks. The biggest advantage would seem that, once the bricks are cut, you could put them in a bag and shake them up to distress the edges and corners.
Bet you already thought of both those ideas.
Russ
Both of those ideas seem very plausible . I would still suggest making a limited number out of whatever material you think works best and make a mold of them and then you can make as many as you want out of plaster .
The problem is that to make a structure of any size you need alot of bricks , just those two sheds took over 3000, so to cut each one individually certainly would qualify you for "madness" status .
Craig ,
How much of hurry are you in need of these bricks ? I might be persuaded to ask my Mum if she wouldn't mind ordering some for you , via me , if you were in no particular hurry . You could then send me dollars , or whatever , in exchange . In fact the only time you would need to get out of your armchair is to reach into your wallet to get the cash out and to post the letter !
We wouldn't want Craig's Modelling World not to be right , now , would we ?!?
Nick
Nick, thanks for the offer No.. im not that much in a hurry to get the bricks. I would need to know what the cost would be? i would like to order some 1/45 and 1/24 bricks. are you in the states? dosent say in profile.
Craig
Craig, Nick is an English gentleman, oohhh my side hurts from trying to keep a straight face while typing that line. Nick ol'man the build is really coming along very nicely. The window example with the thin wooden lentil and the bricks coming away from above is a great detail, but your right it looks like it would be right up Marcel's alley. I originally thought it was a shot of his work. Happy new year buddy, Pat.
Quote from: Belg on December 30, 2009, 01:54:20 PM
Craig, Nick is an English gentleman, oohhh my side hurts from trying to keep a straight face while typing that line. Nick ol'man the build is really coming along very nicely. The window example with the thin wooden lentil and the bricks coming away from above is a great detail, but your right it looks like it would be right up Marcel's alley. I originally thought it was a shot of his work. Happy new year buddy, Pat.
I think a bit respect is called for , Master Patrick , don't you ? If you weren't so damned tall I'd have my Man give you a sound thrashing for your impudence .
I have made a bit more progress with doors and tar paper roof for the right hand shed , but the results are not in the Chuck Reusser league so I might redo them .
Happy New Year to you as well , you Scallywag ,
Nick
Quote.......but the results are not in the Chuck Reusser league so I might redo them .
Nick
Lies, distortions ....if excuses were a drug, you'd be high all the time! ;) ;D
Happy Sodding New Year!
MR
Nick,
I know not relevant to the thread...but didn't know where to put this for you. I know you're always on the look-out for 1/35 resin civilian figures....and you may already know of these...but just in case:
The french company MK35, has 5 pages of 1/35 civil. figs., some are better than others, (and quite reasonably priced) but most seem to be very useable for RR and it's environ, applications.
http://www.mk35.com/index.phpoption=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=18&keyword=&manufacturer_id=0&Itemid=1&orderby=product_name&limit=15&limitstart=0 (http://www.mk35.com/index.phpoption=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=18&keyword=&manufacturer_id=0&Itemid=1&orderby=product_name&limit=15&limitstart=0)
On the left of the page select "1/35" and then select Civilian Figures. They have a pretty cool resin tractor kit as well...but at 55 Euros, the $ conversion is a bit steep at the moment.
MR
Marc ,
And a Happy Bloody Sodding New Year to you as well .
That you for the link to the MK35 website . I am familiar with their products , and I have a few of their figures awaiting painting , but I appreciate you taking the time to tell me about them . I have also been tempted by their tractor , which ironically I spotted the day after I ordered one of Plus Models Lanz Bulldog tractor kits , but as yet haven't done any thing about yet . The Lanz kit itself was about £40 , which makes it good value compared to 55 Euros for the MK tractor .
You are right some of the figures are better than others . And some of the poses are a bit dubious . I'm pretty sure that I won't be able to find a place on any of my fantastic masterpieces ( there you go , another lie!) for a woman having a pee or a man washing his feet in a fountain , but there are plenty of other figures that could be useful . Looking through their catalogue I also realised where Dave Revelia got his figures for one of his large scale dioramas .
Nick
Hi Gang ,
It has been a week or two ( understatement of the year) since I posted an update . So here it is. An update .
Nick
A few more
More of the same
Hi Nick,
now that is looking very nice. As ever I REALLY like that brickwork. Have you done an SBS on the process of bricklaying (in model form), I may have missed it as I'm fairly new to the forum. Would love to see how you achieve your colouring and pointing.
Catch you later
James
Quote from: james_coldicott on March 03, 2010, 10:59:35 AM
Hi Nick,
now that is looking very nice. As ever I REALLY like that brickwork. Have you done an SBS on the process of bricklaying (in model form), I may have missed it as I'm fairly new to the forum. Would love to see how you achieve your colouring and pointing.
Catch you later
James
James ,
Just read this thread from page 1 . I haven't done a SBS as I guessed it would be fairly self explanitary and if I did you would all be as clever as me . Only joking .
Painting and mortaring is pretty easy . Just used water colours of suitable shades for bricks and white plaster slurry as mortar. Simples !
Nick
Nick
I must say you don't post often but when you do.. You actually have something to say.
Beautiful brick work.
How is the family? And I heard on the Scotty Mason Podcast (you remember him) CSS2010 is going to have the pleasure of the two guys from Australia Laurie Green & John Hunter.
Jerry
Quite lovely!
A great accomplishment! You should be proud, I know I am having taught you everything you know about brick laying and masonry.
-Marty
Quote from: lab-dad on March 03, 2010, 11:52:37 AM
Quite lovely!
A great accomplishment! You should be proud, I know I am having taught you everything you know about brick laying and masonry.
-Marty
You are right and I thank my lucky stars daily that you were so generous with your time and knowledge. You must show the other chaps here some of your fine work in the masonry department , I'm sure they will be highly impressed .
Nick the Apprentice
QuoteYou are right and I thank my lucky stars daily that you were so generous with your time and knowledge.
Well, so, who must we congratulate, then, for your excellent work?
Beautiful work Nick. I'd venture to say that you have surpassed the apprentice stage.
Paul
Quote from: Frederic Testard on March 03, 2010, 01:03:05 PM
QuoteYou are right and I thank my lucky stars daily that you were so generous with your time and knowledge.
Well, so, who must we congratulate, then, for your excellent work?
When Marty shows us some of his fine work then the answer to that question will be obvious ,
Nick
Beautifully done Nick. The brickwork and coloring are spot-on and the finish and the dooers si lively.
You should be really happy and proud of these structures.
Marc
17 shovels of sand, 1 bag mortar, water
viola!
looks nice
Nick,
absolutely superb !
if it were not for the "in progress" crane structure the first pic with the green Duetz partially in the shot this would be indistinquishable from the real thing.
Very good stuff indeed. Let me know the details of the pulley that you need and I will fabricate one for you with the greatest of pleasure.
Have fun and don't let living in England get you down
Bernard
Wow! Very nice indeed! For a moment I thought I was looking at the real thing.
Satisfactory. -- Russ
Very nice indeed. I like that discolouring at the bottom edge. Well worth the effort of brick x brick.
Many thanks for all the kind words , Chaps , especially the ones about the photography . As you know my photography is usually pretty crap so to actually almost fool a few of you to think that what you were looking at was the real thing must mean one of two things , either that my photographic abilities are improving , unlikely , or , more probable , you all need to book a visit to the opticians .
Marc ,
whilst I am generally pleased with what I have done I know there are bits that will need to be improved on when I do the next building . I know , all part of the learning curve .
When this project is done and dusted I think I will have a go at making a Lokschuppen ( loco shed ) in the " Ackel-stylee" using bricks , blocks and render to get the run down industrial look .
Russ ,
Thanks for your unrestrained and effusive praise . You must have really scoured your dictionary this time . Ha , Ha .
Nick
As I mentioned before Nick this is great modelling ... the atmosphere is really captured and the piece has got a lovely tonal control of colour over the whole thing.
Are the locos scratch built and what are you using for the motor units and the rails/sleepers ?
Quote from: gfadvance on March 04, 2010, 11:34:10 AM
As I mentioned before Nick this is great modelling ... the atmosphere is really captured and the piece has got a lovely tonal control of colour over the whole thing.
Are the locos scratch built and what are you using for the motor units and the rails/sleepers ?
Gordon,
The locos are most certainly scratch built . But not by me . No these beauties are the product of Bernard Snoodyk ( Narrowgauger) who lives Down Under somewhere and are the whole reason I was able to get started in this scale in the first place . As regard what motor unit they have you will have to address that question to him as I don't get involved with the technical side of these things ! I leave it to much cleverer people than myself . Actually I do know , it is a 2020c Faulhaber gearhead motor .
The ties are On30 rustic ties from The States and the rail is what I had to hand . I hope that is not to vague.
Nick
Quote from: shropshire lad on March 04, 2010, 12:48:12 PM
The ties are On30 rustic ties from The States.......
Nick
WTH are "On30 rustic ties"??....and what mfr is "The States"?
MR
Sharp saw blade: On30 ties
Blade gets dull: On30 "Rustic" ties
Quote from: marc_reusser on March 04, 2010, 01:44:35 PM
Quote from: shropshire lad on March 04, 2010, 12:48:12 PM
The ties are On30 rustic ties from The States.......
Nick
WTH are "On30 rustic ties"??....and what mfr is "The States"?
MR
Questions , questions . The ties , as far as I remember , came through Light Iron Digest . I just checked but the link from LID seems to be broken which may mean they no longer do them .
Basically they are flat top and bottom and rounded on the sides. But if they are buried in the dirt like mine will be then the effect is somewhat lost . The reason for using them is that I've got two big bags to get rid of .
Nick
Hi Gordon
in response to your question about Nick's Deutz loco's the following comments:
- the motors in these models are Faulhaber 2020C's with an integral 56:1 gearhead
- the motor output shaft is linked to the driven axle via a set of spur gears or a timing belt with a further gear reduction of 4.5:1 thus giving a final drive ratio of around 260:1 which in turn provides a scale maximum speed of 15kmh at 12V.
- final drive to the driven axle is by means of a cross helical gear set with a 1:1 ratio.
one of the major benefits of using the 2020 motor [apart from the superb operating characteristics] is the offset output shaft. By rotating the motor on its housing it is possible to get perfect gear mesh or belt tension in the secondary drive.
a photo of a typical installation is attached.
Bernard
We have had some rain over here recently and the grass has begun to grow on the diorama so I thought I would give a quick update of progress , such as it is .
Basically some rusty junk and some grass and weeds .
I'm in danger of actually finishing this one soon . Now , that will never do !
Nick
And one from the back .
Nick
Looking SWEET!
Wanna come do some of my landscaping!?
BTW.. I see you are having the rare sunny day. :P ;) ;D
MR
excellent!
Nice to see you making progress, we need to chat.
You have the bricks down! May be you can do some 1:1 now that you have the experience! LOL!
Will try and call tomorrow.
-Marty
Very nice, Nick. Not only are the bricks perfect, but despite the recent growth, the grass is still very convincing.
Most satisfactory. I like it and want to publish an article about it. -- Russ
Looks good Nick, very nicely understated and subdued, like the fact that the debris looks as though its been there a while and the grass is growing through and over it ............. lathe been delayed due to real life issues, so i had better go and find those pulleys!
Don't want to be blamed for slowing up progress ;)
Very nicely done Nick. All that effort in the brickwork shows off to good advantage in the photos. I second with Gordon, the ground cover and foliage are equally as convincing as the structures.
Paul
Very, very nice!
BTW, the paint and weathering on the little loco is perfect. Dead-on realistic.
Lookinng good ;D ;D .... I like the weathering on the loco. Craig
That's some good white paint on that gantry...no rust in sight. Glad to see progress, looking good!
Watch your head too when going under it!
I guess you could "do da limbo"
-Marty
Well done Nick, I like this environment!
Franck
Gentlemen ...and Marc ,
Sorry I haven't thanked you for your positive comments before now , but I have been having a wild time photographing brick buildings in Bruges in Belgium . I'm sure there are other towns that are equally impressive but for me Bruges is the World capital for beautiful brick buildings . Even the "everyday" looking buildings are stunning . I have taken a gazillion photos , some of which I could post if there was any interest .
For those of you who are unfamiliar with the town I'm sure a quick search on Google will give you an idea what I'm banging on about . I would definitely include it in any itinary on a European trip .
Anyway , thanks for the positive comments and I hope to get some more work done on the diorama in the next week or two ,
Nick
I saw the movie "In Bruges" if that counts. It would be neat to see your pics if you get a chance.
Quote from: Chuck Doan on April 16, 2010, 12:34:07 PM
I saw the movie "In Bruges" if that counts. It would be neat to see your pics if you get a chance.
Dunno , what's it about and where is it set ?
Pictures are being downloaded from my camera as I type .
Nick
Here's a little taster .
Quote from: Chuck Doan on April 16, 2010, 12:34:07 PM
I saw the movie "In Bruges" if that counts. It would be neat to see your pics if you get a chance.
I enjoyed that flick. I need to rent it again......ditto on the interest in the pics.
MR
Nick, seeing home again would be great. I visited Brugge many times and know exactly what your talking about. Pat
A quick update of the state of play
Nick
Another
Another
Last one
Nick
Nick.
nice progress, looks good. I like the box texture. Looks like you took a lump out of the ground.
No tippers yet ? Why didn't you use leaves on the larger bushes ??
Jacq
Nice little diorama Nick. I like the deep base gets it off the table so you can view it better. How many brick did it take?
Gordon Birrell
http://www.flickr.com/photos/77318580@N00/
Looks great Nick,
I presume it is an old drawer you have used for the base - or did you just cut the dovetails when you had a few minutes to spare?
By the way that's a much better pulley wheel than I could ever have managed!!
exceptionally sufficient!
how's that Unc?
The large horizontal pulley is interesting, what's the deal?
=Marty
Dang,
That came out really sweet. Beautiful work Nick, your effort with the brick really paid off. Any cahnce of some close-ups? Is that a sheet of plywood in one of the shed windows?
I like the whole scene.....unfortunately I am bit less thrilled with the wood base.....not the wood itself, I think that's really cool and well done.....I just wish that it did not form a visible border around the scene....or at least a thinner one......IMHO the amount/ratio of wood visible compared to the scene size is just so much, that for me, it tends to distract and overwhelm the scene.....but that's all just a personal thing on my part.
Marc
I agree with Marc about the base but I'm ready to publish it anyway, whenever you feel up to it. -- Russ
Hi All ,
Thanks for the nice comments . I have still got some details to do to finish it but essentially it is done .
To answer the various comments and questions .
Jacq ,
The tippers I have will be used on a small separate base to take the ends of the steel cable to show those that don't know what they are looking at how the incline worked .
No leaves on larger bushes ? Laziness is the answer !
Gordon B ,
About 3000 bricks .
Gordon F ,
Base was purpose made out of old floor boards .
Yes , Bernard , did a fine job on the wheel . I'm sure you could have done something similar .
Marty ,
You obviously haven't been paying attention in class . May I refer you back to page 1 where you will find a picture or two of the prototype . In the first picture you will see a large brick structure with a chimney in the background . In between that and the brick sheds in the foreground you should be able to see a skip wagon this is being pulled up to the larger building by a continuous steel cable . The big wheel on the top of the sheds is the return wheel and is the location where the loaded skips are attached and the empty ones are returned to be refilled . Do you understand now ?
Marc ,
I know what you mean about the excess of visible wood around the diorama and how visually off putting it may be , and I take your comments on board . However , in mitigation the base also has to double up as a travelling box as the diorama will sit in it when it is being transported to the US . As you may be aware the good people at some of our airports can be less than gentle when moving peoples luggage around so I need a container that will take a bit of punishment .The two other boxes I have had made for other dioramas have done their job admirably well .
Having read your comments I may well chamfer the edges of the box to reduce the amount of wood at the top . I will think it over .
That is not ply you see in the window but the backing card . They are one of the areas that need finishing . I haven't decided whether to have steel or wood shutters over them . I am still prevaricating.
Russ ,
Will this article be required sooner rather than later ? I was hoping to find someone at the Convention to take some decent photos of it , and not have to rely on my rubbish efforts .
Nick
Nick,
very nice work as ever. The more I see the more I think I must do something with the bricks you gave me. I'm not sure about the base/ box but your picnic table could do with a coat of varnish! ;)
I think chamfering the edges of the base would solve one problem but loose much of the aged patina of the old floorboard which I quite like- I notice that the top edge of the board at the back of the buildings is machined already so maybe it would even things up a bit. Just ordered a new (slightly better) camera- if I make it up to you next month I'll happily have a go at getting some photo's for you.
One question I haven't asked yet- what are your plans for figures, if any?
James
James ,
I look forward to seeing something in brick by you in the not to distant future . As for the table . You are right . It is on the list of things I need to do . Number 999 on a list of 1000 !
I will talk to you offline about any possible visits by you .
As for figures . I would like to have one or two on the dio but as of yet haven't found anything suitable . I shall go and have another look at MK35 s website to see if there is anything suitable .
Nick
Hi Nick,
this project is really inspiring.
You might be wanting to check a figure MF called Wolf. They also have some very nice civil figures.
Marc B
Hi Nick,
I like it, has a nice balance of neatness and decay. It certainly makes a great little display diorama for some of Bernard's fine loco's too. The cables leading from the overhead line are hanging off the side of the diorama...is that leading to the next piece of the display? Sort of like two island diorama's with the cables connecting them?
Cheers,
Dan
Dan ,
Correct . I intend standing a block of wood about 3" square with two small pieces of track ontop of it and two skip wagons on the track with the cable draped over them as it was with the prototype . I do not intend to paint the wagons or scenic the track . They will purely be there to show the viewers what happens .
Nick
Oh that will confuse the hell outta the great un washed!
Sorry I didnt remember the wheel and prototype from page one, it has just been so long since I saw it!
okay, really I was not paying attention, just looking at the pictures............
-Mj ;D
Looking great, Nick. Excellent little scene. That cable thing is very interesting, not what I was expecting at all.
Nick,
A bit OT for this thread, but otherwise right up your alley....there is discussion on the MIG forum that the next challenge (winner gets to choose $200 Euros worth of Mig stuff)...will possibly be "vegetation".....so any subjet matter as long as it involves vegetation.....thought this would be a good one for you to take part in.
MR
Nick, I think you can take Marc's suggestion as a back-handed compliment ;D
Packed yet?
Might need a SBS, bricks101, before and after shot, and a pretty picture of the prototype just to prove that its not a 4 wall casting from Tom Yorke with a nice paint job ;D
Dan
Quote from: danpickard on July 22, 2010, 02:14:16 AM
Packed yet?
Might need a SBS, bricks101, before and after shot, and a pretty picture of the prototype just to prove that its not a 4 wall casting from Tom Yorke with a nice paint job ;D
Dan
Dan ,
These sheds could never be mistaken for Tom Yorke castings as there aren't any straight joints at the corners ! Meeeoow.
As for the SBS , they'll have to buy one of Russ's comics later on in the year for that .
Niock
Not only will you get the SBS but also a ton of photos. After all, it's a heck of a diorama ... despite the fact that Nick built it. -- Russ
Quote from: finescalerr on July 22, 2010, 01:21:06 PM
Not only will you get the SBS but also a ton of photos. After all, it's a heck of a diorama ... despite the fact that Nick built it. -- Russ
Only here can you be praised and damned in the same sentence . And by someone who doesn't do modelling anymore .
I suppose I had better finish it ,
Nick
I still model. Just rather slowly. Well, excruciatingly slowly. Especially because my last attempt at building clapboard walls from cardstock revolted me and I have discarded them in sheer disgust and fear a second attempt might also be unsatisfactory. Of course I always could use wood. But that wood be cheating....
Then I had to crank out a book (and had no time at all for modeling). And then I turned my full attention to composing, arranging, and creating new music (something few of you have attempted) and have yet even to record the clarinet tracks since I first must familiarize myself with that which I have created (a loathsome and thankless task).
All the while I must administer these forums (Lat. fora) to protect youse guys from the Forces of Evil constantly lurking at our very (cyber) doors. And there's Family Stuff. And The Cats. And my Female Spouse. And errands, chores, and Other Detritus.
Is it any wonder, then, that Your Leader has limited modeling time?
So, just for that, young Nick, GO STAND IN THE CORNER. AGAIN.
ssuR
Quote from: finescalerr on July 23, 2010, 01:46:18 AM
I still model. Just rather slowly. Well, excruciatingly slowly. Especially because my last attempt at building clapboard walls from cardstock revolted me and I have discarded them in sheer disgust and fear a second attempt might also be unsatisfactory. Of course I always could use wood. But that wood be cheating....
Then I had to crank out a book (and had no time at all for modeling). And then I turned my full attention to composing, arranging, and creating new music (something few of you have attempted) and have yet even to record the clarinet tracks since I first must familiarize myself with that which I have created (a loathsome and thankless task).
All the while I must administer these forums (Lat. fora) to protect youse guys from the Forces of Evil constantly lurking at our very (cyber) doors. And there's Family Stuff. And The Cats. And my Female Spouse. And errands, chores, and Other Detritus.
Is it any wonder, then, that Your Leader has limited modeling time?
So, just for that, young Nick, GO STAND IN THE CORNER. AGAIN.
ssuR
I thought you only did books on "FINE MODELS"
What are we going to call this new one?? ;D
Nick I will join you in the corner!!!!
Jerry
Some people will make any excuse to avoid doing a bit of modelling . If you want a few of my tried and tested excuses just let me know .
I didn't realise that I had been released from the corner for my last infringement . Shall I just move to another corner ?
Nick
Do you have a Male Spouse as well as a Female one ? Your followers need to know .
Jerry, you and Nick now may use Extra Strength CA to fasten yourselves permanently to whatever corner(s) you prefer, together or separately depending on your proclivities.
I shall demur answering your tainted questions. One in my Vaunted Position must rise above such childishness.
Indeed, I have had an epiphany: One in my Vaunted Position also must rise above modeling itself in order to remain impartial in my assessment of your ongoing efforts.
Answering these posts has been such hard work it now is necessary for me to relax at my impressive Tahitian seaside villa with some specially selected beautiful girls in thong bikinis eager to cater to my every whim. Please forgive me if I am unable to respond to your further remarks for awhile.
ssuR
Russ, does your oft-referred to "vaunted position" also involve the specially selected beautiful girls in thong bikinis? If so, it's no wonder you have no time, let alone energy for your modeling pursuits... ;)
Paul
I blame Nick really. For the last week I have squashed, scored and cut 3100 bricks out of air drying clay for my new layout. I have discarded all the out of shape, too thick, too thin and too long bricks. I have painstakingly produced strips of card for the mortar courses out of thin card at 2.5mm widths. I have designed and built retaining walls and bridge abutments. I have glued said bricks (so far 1500 and counting) into the layout. I have now painted and matt varnished the walls. Then I went and had a look at this thread to see how the mortar was produced. Damn, my bricks don't look anywhere near as good as this model. Is it because I didn't painstakingly paint each individual brick with a brush with just three hairs left on it? Is it because I laid my brick courses by eye to speed up the process? Is it because I am under pressure to get something finished for the next show on August 7? Will I throw it all away? Damn no!!! I like what I have produced so far and in my little world it will look good with extra long grass and weeds hiding it all. Maybe I will inflict the finished thing on Gnatterbox. The standard on here is out of my league.
I hope you build another little gem soon Nick. I am watching. ;D
Ian.....
Inquiring minds want to see.....post those photos!....I think it is unfair of you to deprive us of deciding the verdict on your brickwork ;) ;D. The standards of which you speak are purely imagined.
MR
Sorry Marc - the glue is drying on the stream bed before matt varnishing the soon-to-be-congealed mess so that I can add a flowing stream through it. Just a theory of course - it may not work. I then have to build a box girder bridge with plate steel sides. No idea at this point how to emulate about 1000 rivets. I should be able to get those off Kit Form Services or Detail Master et al.
I truly admire the mind-numbing level of detail and high quality of finish on this forum. One of my favourite places to visit when I am tired of seeing all that other crap on other forums who are obviously not setting the standards that are apparent here. Nick's attention to detail on his brickwork is light years ahead of mine. So that I am not seen to be hijacking this thread I will post my efforts later when there is more to see - but thanks for your vote of confidence!!!
A question for Nick though - how did you colour the bricks and what do you mean by pinwashes? Do you use a fine tip to apply colour to the surface and let capillary action do the rest? I have simply painted an overall colour of British Paints Manor Red followed by a stipple of British Paints Ironstone which from normal viewing distance - about two metres(!) looks about right! My plaster was casting plaster with a touch of cement oxide to create a mid grey mortar colour so that the wall looks more than 30 years old. Unfortunately the casting plaster dries in literally two minutes which means some parts of the wall still have a bit too much grey smeared over them. Still working out how to pick it all off.
Ian,
please publish some photo's of your work. They will tell more than any literate effort. ;D ;D
Jacq
Ian ,
Glad to see you participating on this forum . Don't be too overawed by the quality of modelling here , just remember that we all started somewhere at sometime and you are not seeing photos of the results because , depending on their age , either the internet hadn't been invented or , for some , cameras hadn't been invented !
If you do brave it and post some photos you will be guaranteed to have a response. It will probably come in the form of constructive criticism and suggestions of ways of correcting , changing or improving what you have done . You may ,or may not , agree or accept to what is said , but the intention by and large would be to try and help . Unless you caught Marc at the wrong time of the month .
To answer your question . The bricks I used are all self coloured . One of the sheds is made of the clay bricks I bought from Germany and the other is made with bricks that have been made with a terracotta coloured plaster . This is made by a British firm called Tiranti . Therefore , the answer would be , is that I haven't coloured the bricks .
The mortar is just white plaster sponged into the joints , not too thoroughly so that there are some bits missed, and then wiped off before the plaster set . I have added nothing to the plaster to change its colour . I would do that after the plaster has set .Pinwashed are just as you suggest . Localised application of stain to darken the mortar and bricks . Restraint is the watchword here .
The secret , if it is a secret , is to use a plaster that is the colour you want the finished bricks . That way you won't be rubbing any paint off when you apply the mortar as there isn't any paint to rub off . However , as you are not making your bricks out of plaster this may not be relevant .
My next building will be significantly bigger and will be a mixture of brick and stone done in an interesting way . I will also be experimenting with air dried clay to try and make some pantiles for the roof . I'll let you know if it works . If it doesn't then I'll say nothing .
Thanks for posting pictures of my sheds on your website . Hopefully you'll be able to post photos of them finished in due course ,
Nick
QuoteI'll let you know if it works . If it doesn't then I'll say nothing
CHICKEN
Quote from: jacq01 on July 31, 2010, 04:06:21 AM
QuoteI'll let you know if it works . If it doesn't then I'll say nothing
CHICKEN
Abso-bloomin'-lutely !
Nick,
Back home from the NG convenion now I guess. Did the brickworks hold up ok for the flights, and how was the feedback?
Whats you're next project then...a sawmill? ;D
Cheers,
Dan
Dan, bad boy...
wot, me? ;)
To be honest Frederic, it really would be nice to see what sort of an effort Nick would throw into a sawmill. I could probably guess what it wouldn't look like...
Dan
Dan ,
I guess you got my private email regarding the subject of sawmills and competitions , so we had better not say to much , eh , nudge nudge , wink wink !
Been back from the Confusion for about a week now and have started on my next project . It is a six foot square diorama using all the HO kits I have in my possession ( numbering about 15), including a sawmill ( sorry). There will be no proper theme ,logic or continuity to it , but that doesn't matter , because it will be BIG ! As Dave Revelia says , "if you want to win , go large , or go home !" I will charter a plane just so it makes the crossing safely .
My brick sheds made it there and back safe and sound as overhead luggage , so the only moron to handle it was me . Those people who knew and understood what the diorama was about seemed to like it , the rest were bemused .
I actually did start making a sawmill several years ago , but like most of my projects it stalled . It was an open air O scale one or two man operated mill set in an old stone quarry . I got the idea from two sources, a pair of articles in the Gazette from years ago and a firewood cutting operation in an old quarry half a mile from my house . The problem was I just couldn't make it work . I'm sure I could have if I had persued it , but I moved on to other things . I still like the idea , but haven't got the time at the moment . Maybe when I retire !
Nick
;D
See Nick, option B with the sawmill just sounds so much more original and creative. I'd only go with the first option if you have contacts with the British Airforce, and can talk your way into a ride in the back of one of them big cargo jets to get it all there (parachute drop out the back door and all!)
Glad the travel was "satisfactory".
Cheers,
Dan
So I understand from your reply about the Confusion is that you are now going SMALL SCALE?
And I am now as I type this waiting for the postie to bring me my silicone mould material to make accurate bricks for my Gn15 layout!!!!
My wife still doesn't get it. My kids have never understood me either. Modelling - it's like scrapbooking, you do it in a quiet space at your own pace because no-one else understands what it is all about unless it is another modeller or scrapbooker. No wonder I call it SMB (Secret Men's Business). ;D
OK Nick,
I admit it you got me "hook, line & sinker"
I read the whole thread, although I did have to go and lie in a dark room a couple of times. If I have summarised the 15 pages correctly then;-
I can only get these bricks if I have a German mother in-law, after the divorce and remarriage if I have any money left I need to change it in to Euros and travel to Germany to purchase them. Once bought I need to find some HO 6x1 for the mortar lines, unfortunately not available in UK but I might pick some up in the States? All other sources of 1/35 bricks are rubbish, although if I attend Euro Militaire I might find a mythical supplier at half the price of the German bricks but just as good.
Have I got this right so far?
I feel an almost overwhelming debt of gratitude to you for helping me out this way ;D
Anyway your sheds are still great, and the cement mixer would actually look good abandoned down the side amongst the overgrown grass.
Of to lie down again.
Gordon ,
Nobody said modelling in this scale was easy , if you want that , 0n30 is the scale for you . That is why there are only a few 1/35th scale railway modellers about at the moment . We operate on the fringes of decent society where few normal people dare to go .
Are you normal ? Or are you one of the few ? The choice is yours .
Nick
Quote from: shropshire lad on April 05, 2011, 01:22:39 AM
Are you normal ? Or are you one of the few ? The choice is yours .
Nick
Think I'll leave it to my
current wife answer that!
However as a clue I have ordered up a few 1/35 bricks, as I will need somewhere to put my one 1/35 model
... for some reason .. the phrase .. "... a few bricks short of a full load .." .. just popped into my head. Donno where it came from ..
Hmm ... seems to give me a musical interlude ...
The elastic retreat rings the close of the play as the last wave uncovers
the newfangled way.
But your new shoes are worn at the heels and
your suntan does rapidly peel and
your wise men don't know how it feels to be thick as a brick.
(Add many extra syllables to heels, peel and feels.) ;) -- Dallas
Thumbs up for Jethro Tull!!
figured I'd throw this in :)
(https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdigital.library.louisville.edu%2Fcgi-bin%2Fshowfile.exe%3FCISOROOT%3D%2Fcs%26amp%3BCISOPTR%3D1342&hash=47659dd279f84182c4a5b45502d06e0aa5bd63c9)
pretty good archive here: http://digital.library.louisville.edu/cdm4/collections.php
phil